Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-02-23
A MIDNIGHT INVASION.

Mad anne Carrelle's school was remark
able institution, and the madame was re
markable woman / was of. what ByroI
calls, the bread and butter age, and there
fore, did not appreciate these thing much
but did appreciate the four lovely girl
who were my intimates. Vestella Kay
moBd was my favorite.
shall never forget an incident related D!
her brother.
She and her mother lived alone on theil
estate, and were one day alone in the house
the servants being all out a struggling
ruffian entered the parlor where they sat
and demanded their money and jewels.
Mrs. Raymond was paralyzed with fear
Vestella feigned excessive terror, and tax
ing small box from her pocket, she hand
ed it to him with the key, saying:
"We we're preparing for journey ano
had packed up our jewels. l believe this
box contains them; will you open it and see.
My f1Egers tremble SO / cannot unlock it. y
the purpose of unlocking the box, when
Vestella snatched them up; and command
ed him not to stir hand or foot.
1t was his turn to be appalled,, for there
was no mistaking the will flashing from
those eyes, and there was no trembling in
the finger that pressed the trigger.
He remained motionless.
In few moments the servants entered,
and he was secured.
This was Vestella's style, and she mani
tested it in various ways among us. But
the steely vigor of her character was soften
ed and rendered lustrous by the glittering
polish of mirthfulness and frolic.
Her merry conversation was our unfail-
ing antidote for hemesickness. So cheer
full and affectionate, so warm-hearted and
cenfiding. And what sarcastic observations
she would make, not exactly "upon men
and things" but upon things in general,
and the madame in particular.
At her instigation we five formed our
selves into a society .'for the mutual discus
sion and preservation of all such secrets as
it seemed unadvisable to communicate to
our many friends ameng the other young
ladies in the scheol.'
Our rules provided that there should be
no reserve upon any subject between the
members: that any interview with gentle
man should be faithfully reported, and all
that transpired at said interview; and that
any member guilty of falling in love should
have her hair cut short, and woven into
bracelets for the other four.
Vestella was rogue, a mischief, a very
Amazon. She could skate, ride, swim,
and Oh, dear, I cannot mention half her
exploits. Yet when l remembered how
she hung over me through the long nights,
when was racked with fever, away from
home and friends, how nearly she filled the
place of a mother to me, I felt persuaded
that, if the members of our society had an
opportunity to fall in love, she would be
the first one to improve it.
The house was built in style uncommon
in this country. Its peculiarity consisted
in two square towers upon the front-ene
upon each corner--giving it the appearance
of an Episcopal church.
Vestella called it the double -barreled
school house. The house proper was three
stories in height, and the towers rose one
story above the roof. The windows in
each story opened upon broad veranda,
extending across the front of the house,
and quite around each tower, and these
piazzas were supported one above the other
by slender pillars.
The upper story in each tower had former
ly been used as deposit for old furniture and
other rubbish, but when Vestella entered
the school, her rambling disposition led her
into one Of these rooms, and nothing would
tiop She had sncb a taxing wav with
her. and the increased ponnlaritv of ma
dame,s astahI;sbmantb b.d on oftan forced
upon her mind the propriety of shortly en-
laroinp her building. that Vestella carried
her noint and was instalIed in the sstower-
ton $
It suited the society. for we could discuss
onr secrets withont danger of ha;ng over.
heard. and coulu vent the explosions of
mirth which thev often elicited without
risk of visit from the hall. teacher.
The lawns and gardens extended in front
of the house for p great distance with q
oreat CLONE Terminating in a circnlar nond
surrounded bv an artificial grove. If was
mv deliobt in tha afternoons at snch hours
as we were not REQUIRED to be in our roems.
or at recitation. to take nv hook or fancy
wo,k and Sin awav tn !. cnrning LITTLE
seat / had constructed in the shade of the
crane. vines.
was sitting here one afternoon. when T
was startled bv mems voices nm the other
side of The nalino
NV first imnnlse was to RIM. but T
tbonobt nerbaps MIGHT oatbar soma
rbing tn renort to tho soc;atv had can.
tiousiv parted the vine leaves and neened
rhrou1h a cracl, in the boards
There were two vounp men. whom T re.
coon;zed as members of the Collegiate In.
stiinte One of them. a tall orscefnllv-
formed voung fellow. with a lauohing blue
eve Was co,yers;ng and oest;cuist;ng with
great animation.
1T c.n do it-T toll no,, CON 40 til r;,,
uagar a dozsn basLats of cbamnaano +b.t
nan do If -
"Done y, exc,ain,aa tho otber orasn;ro
his hand sePnt bo,v On eortb ors uo,, ,e
oct nm there9, -
..Jrst as Cletb Hv,es rot into tho cham
ber al Miss KINGS ne cl;nhod nm tho
nillars to the halnstr,da in front of the Ga.
sond story then he had to take The water
n,ne tn tho third There waa iitt,e nro.
iort;on ibere. ha orort nIoro- that and ro+
into tbe window Nov % this E is notbings I go 70
that '-.'0 '''' "
s.R,t bare tbere sro fo,,r s+or;as ,,
A cold sbndder crent over me .,d M,
hoo rt boat co f,no;aS tbo- ,ot IT,, -
for heoap to have sone i3ea of tbe;r ;n' no'
NN'' VI 0AOiA -